Making Pioneer Tools For M35A2

[tx399999]

I shot mine with Gilespie rattle cans from Rapco. Holds up just fine for me.

 

[DHennon]

Good Job! I made mine the same way. I only had to cut the shovel handle down 2 3/4 " and did the same cuts on the axe. Turned out great and saved money!

 

[saddamsnightmare]

April 14th, 2012.

Bill Turner or Bob Turner's Surplus in New Boston, TX can set you up with all the correct pioneer rack tools you want for a fair price! What you may have adapted fits, but it might not be "right" as it is not NSN stock. Just pointing out the fact....

 

[quickfarms]

I to have found that the shovels are too long

 

[austinaubinoe]

April 14th, 2012.

Bill Turner or Bob Turner's Surplus in New Boston, TX can set you up with all the correct pioneer rack tools you want for a fair price! What you may have adapted fits, but it might not be "right" as it is not NSN stock. Just pointing out the fact....

Hey Im really looking hard for a set of pioneer tools for my 53. I searched for bob turner surplus and got nothing on the google machine. Do you have a phone number, or a website?

Thanks!

 

[SCSG-G4]

As I said before, I've seen the current shovels with the same NSN as the originals - they are about 2.5 inches too long because they switched from a true "D" handle to a 'tulip' type handle, which made it longer. Of course, current GI's are a couple of inches taller that the ones the shovel was originally designed for too.

 

[123mack]

When I was in the army, I very rarely saw tools painted, so I don't bother to paint mine. I suppose it varied according to the commanding officer. After all they were only shovels axes or picks.

 

[WyColo Deuce]

I have been searching for tool sets and decided to improvise. I found a garden tool sale at the local hardware store and went shopping. Every tool was $10 or less.
1)...The Pick Mattock did not need to be modified just painted. It has a plastic crown on the handle, which I found to be no big deal, but it can be replaced with a full wooden handle in the future.
2)...Standard axe handles are a bit long and will not allow the shovel to sit down properly in the tool rack so it had to be shortened 1-3/4" You can see the cuts I made in the pic below.
3)...Every one knows that a standard shovel is too long and will never fit in the rack as is. The handle on the shovel had to be shortened 4-3/4" then I had to reshape the shaft to accept the grip back onto it. I drilled new holes in the shaft and re-pinned the grip to the shaft....... Refer to pic below.
4)...Then I prepped and painted everything.

Thank you for this information. This thread and the one below from "CGarbee" are very helpful. I just made my set and am getting ready for paint in the next coming weeks.
Pictures to follow...